Aquarium

ABSTRACT

An aquarium having vertically spaced apart, enveloping, upper and lower integral frames holding a plurality of transparent side walls in sealed engagement, the lower frame member during assembly of the aquarium functioning to initially locate and support the side walls and a transparent bottom wall, and the upper frame functioning to assist the lower frame to hold the side walls while adhesive applied to join them in sealed relation is curing.

United States Patent 1 Hall [111 3,759,224 1 Sept. 18, 1973 AQUARIUM[75] lnventor: Frank Kenneth Hall, Saginaw, Mich.

[73] Assignee: ODellManuiacturing lnc., Saginaw,

Mich.

[22] Filed: Dec. 17, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 209,101

[52] US. Cl. 119/5 [51] Int. Cl A0lk 64/00 [58] Field of Search 119/5;220/82, 4 R

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,651,975 3/1972 Callan119/5 X 3,152,574 10/1964 Stout 119/5 2,713,847 7/1955 Blaise 119/55/1957 Chial'o 119/5 l/l965 Hovlid 119/5 Primary Examiner-Hugh R.Chamblee Attorney-John F. Learman et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT An aquarium having vertically spaced apart, enveloping,upper and lower integral frames holding a plurality of transparent sidewalls in sealed engagement, the lower frame member during assembly ofthe aquarium functioning to initially locate and support the side wallsand a transparent bottom wall, and the upper frame functioning to assistthe lower frame to hold the side walls while adhesive applied to jointhem in sealed relation is curing.

11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PmmEnsn-a'ms INVENTOR FRANK KENNETH HALL[garman McCulloch ATTORNEYS 1 AQUARIUM FIELD OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to aquariums, and more particularly to a new andimproved aquarium and a new and improved method of assembling anaquarium which does not require fixtures for retaining the walls duringassembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the present day assembly of aquariums,some of the aquarium parts or components are generally held in a jig orfixture while other aquarium parts are being joined to them. Substantialmanual labor is required to assemble the aquarium parts and tomanipulate the retaining fixtures. It is an object of the presentinvention to decrease the time required to assemble an aquarium.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new andnovel method of assembling an aquarium which does not use fixtures forretaining the various aquarium parts during assembly.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an aquariumwith a unitary side wall enveloping frame construction which may beselectively used as either the bottom frame member or the upper framemember.

It is a still further object of the present invention to minimize theoverall cost of manufacturing an aquarium.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art as the descriptionthereof proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An aquarium comprising top and bottom side wallenveloping frames, at least the bottom frame member including outer andinner vertical wall means spanned byadditional wall means integrallyformed therewith to define a perimetrically extending, open ended slot,the bottom frame including generally perimetrically extending supportflange means formed integrally with and extending inwardly of said innerwall means, a'plurality of abutting side wall sections spanning saidupper and lower frame members and received in said slot; a bottom wallsection disposed between said side wall sections and supported by saidsupport flange means; and means for sealing said side wall sections tothe adjacent side wall section and the bottom wall section to provide awater-tight enclosure. During assembly, the frames clamp the side wallsand bottom wall in assembled position while adhesive which is used tojoin them cures or sets.

The present invention may more readily be described by reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a top perspective view of an aquarium frame member constructedin accordance with the principles of the present invention, one side andone end of the frame member being split to more clearly illustrate theconfiguration of the outer and inner wall sections thereof;

FIG. 2 is a top, perspective view illustrating an initial step inassembling the aquarium wherein the side walls of the aquarium arevertically held by a lower frame member;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view illustrating a subsequent step inassembling the aquarium, wherein the end wall members of the aquariumare vertically held by the lower frame between the side wall members ofthe aquarium;

FIG. 4 is a similar view illustrating a further step in the assemblywherein the lower wall of the aquarium is inserted and placed inposition on the lower frame;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembled aquarium and alsoillustrates a further step in the assembly of the aquarium wherein theupper frame is placed over the top of the side and end walls of theaquarium; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional end view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION An aquarium constructed accordingto the presentinvention, is generally designated A (FIG. 5), and includes upper andlower frame members F and F, transparent glass side walls 30 spanned bytransparent glass end walls 32, a transparent bottom wall 40, and atransparent top wall 46. The frame members F and F are identical andinterchangeable and function in the assembly of the component parts in amanner which will later be described.

INTERCHANGEABLE FRAME MEMBERS The injection molded plastic side wallenveloping frames F and F are identical and accordingly only frame Fwill be described. Frame F comprises side and end frame portions 10 and12 respectively, which are integrally formed to provide a unitaryconstruction that facilitates rapid assembly of the aquarium A aswillbecome apparent hereinafter. Each of the side portions 10 includes anouter vertical wall section 14 and an inner vertical wall section 16spanned by a bridging wall section 18 to define an upwardly opening slot17 for snugly receiving one of the aquarium glass side walls 30.Although the lower ends 14a and 16a of the outer and inner wall sections14 and 16 are coterminus, the upper end 14b of the outer wall 14terminates substantially above the upper end 16b of the inner wall 16. Abottom wall supporting flange 20 extends inwardly from the upper edge16b of each inner wall 16 for supporting the lower transparent glasswall 40 as will be described more particularly hereinafter.

The end frame portions 12 each include an outer vertical wall section 22and an inner vertical wall section 24 spanned by a horizontal bridgingwall section 26 and defining an upwardly opening slot 25 incommunication with the side slots 17 for receiving one of the aquariumglass end walls 32. The lower ends 22a and 24a of the outer and innerframe wall sections 22 and 24 are coterminus, however, the upper end 24bof the inner wall 24 terminates substantially below the upper end 22b ofthe outer wall 22. Extending inwardly from the upper end 24b of eachinner wall 24 is an inwardly directed wall supporting flange 28 forsupporting, with the flanges 20, the bottom glass wall 40 as will bedescribed more particularly hereinafter.

The glass supporting walls l4, l6 and 18 of the side frame sections 10are integrally formed with the glass supporting walls 22, 24 and 26,respectively, of the end frame sections 12 to provide enveloping wallsdefining a continuous aquarium wall-receiving slot, generally designatedS, having side and end slot sections 17 and 25. The side and end, bottomglass wall supporting flanges 20 and 28 are also integrally formed.

The frames F and F are particularly adapted for use in assembling thetransparent, glass side walls 30 and end walls 32 which are respectivelysnugly received in the slots 17 and 25.

The glass side walls 30 are pre-cut sections which conventionally arecut to a 1/16 inch lengthwise tolerance. To account for this tolerance,the end wall members 12 each include a pair of vertical recesses 38, inlongitudinal alignment with the aquarium wallreceiving side slots 17,for accommodating the ends 30a of the glass side walls 30 whennecessary.

The length L of the glass end walls 32 is, for practical purposes, equalto the length of the inner end wall sections 24 and also equal to thedistance between the glass side walls 30 received in the side slots 17.The glass end walls 32 may be cut from pre-cut glass sectionsconventionally cut to a 1/16 inch lengthwise tolerance. If the pre-cutsections 30 are then evenly cut into four end pieces 32, each piece willbe of equal length within a tolerance of 1/64 of an inch. The thickness1 of the glass end and side walls 32 and 30 is equal to the width w ofthe slots 17 and 25, so that the glass walls 30 and 32 are held tightlybetween the walls 14, 16 and 22, 24 respectively in a verticallydisposed position. The bottom wall 40 of the aquarium A is supported onthe inwardly disposed flanges and 28 and has a length substantiallyequal to the distance between the aquarium end walls 32 received in theslots and a width substantially equal to the distance between the glassside walls received in the side slots 17. Full length, continuous beads34 of conventional translucent, water impervious adhesive sealant, i.e.General Electric Company silicone cement RTV-lOS, are disposed betweenthe adjacent side and end members 30 and 32 and full length, continuousbeads of sealing cement 36 are also disposed between the wall members 30and 32 and the adjacent wall sections 14 and 22, and the bottom wall 40and the flanges 20 and 28, to provide a leak-proof chamber 44 in whichwater may be indefinitely held. No bead is required between the edges ofthe bottom wall 40 and wall members 30 and 32.

The identical frame F is placed atop the glass side walls 30 and 32 sothat the downwardly opening slots 25 and 17 receive the upper ends ofthe aquarium glass end walls 32 and side walls 30. Full length,continuous beads of suitable sealing compound or cement 37 are placedbetween the upper ends of the glass side and end walls 30 and 32 and theframe F to provide a waterproof seal. The frame F includes inwardlydisposed flange portions 20'and 28'supporting a top glass wall 46 whichprovides a removable closure for the opening in the upper end of theaquarium.

THE METHOD OF ASSEMBLlNG THE AQUARIUM The frames F and F play animportant role in the assembly of the aquarium A. The aquarium A isassembled by firstly running a bead of sealing cement 36 along the lowerouter surface 300 of the glass side walls 30 and then placing one of theglass side walls 30 in the longitudinal slot 17 of the frame F in theposition shown in FIG. 2. The glass wall supporting side wall section 10of the frame F is sufficiently rigid to maintain the glass side wall 30in the vertically true upright position illustrated in FIG. 2 without anauxiliary holding jig or fixture. A plurality of beads 34 of sealingcement are then run along the vertical marginal edges 32a and the lowerouter edge surfaces 32b of the glass end walls 32 which are then placedin the slots 25, provided in the end sections 12 of the frame F, to abutthe glass side wall 30 as illustrated in FIG. 2. Then the opposite sidewall 30, which is provided with a like bead of cement 30 along its lowerwater edge, is placed in the opposite slot 17 of frame F to abut endwalls 32 (see FIG. 3). The end and side glass supporting wall sections10 and 12 have sufficient rigidity and strength to maintain the snuglyfitting glass side walls 30 and 32 in the structurally bonded verticallytrue, upright position shown in FIG. 3 without use of any auxiliarypositioning jig or form. A continuous perimetrical edge bead 36 ofsealing cement is placed on the underside of the slightly undersize,(i.e. 1/16 of an inch all around to facilitate insenion) bottom glasswall 40 of the aquarium A before it is inserted through the opening inthe upper end of the aquarium between the side and end glass walls 30and 32 and moved downwardly to an adhesively secured position on theflange members 20 and 28 on the side and end frame members 10 and 12(see FlG. 4).

The upper frame member F, which is as noted, identical to the lowerframe F, but inverted relative thereto, is thence placed over the sidewalls 30 and 32 and moved downwardly relative thereto so that the upperends of the side walls 30 and 32 are received in the slot portions 17and 25. Prior to moving the frame F into position, a suitable adhesive37 is placed on the upper outer edge surfaces of the glass walls 30 and32 to structurally bond the frame F thereto. The top closure glass wall46 is then placed on the flange members 20 and 28 of the upper frame Fto complete the aquarium. The completed aquarium is then passed throughan adhesive drying or curing oven to set the adhesive sealant andpermanently glue the various components in permanent assembled relation.The frames F and F are structurally bonded to the glass and operate, asa vise, to hold the glass walls together and as additional protectionagainst stress otherwise causing leaks in the tank. When set, thesealant is somewhat elastic in quality and can deform without rupturing.Thus, with the so-called floating (undersize) bottom wall, the aquariumcan be placed on a stand which is not entirely level and some relativechange of position is possible without cracking the glass walls.

It is to be understood that the drawings and descriptive matter are inall cases to be interpreted as merely illustrative of the principles ofthe invention, rather than as limiting the same in any way, since it iscontemplated that various changes may be made in various elements toachieve like results without departing from the spirit of the inventionor the scope of the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. An aquarium comprising:

continuously integrally extending, vertically spaced,

unitary, top and bottom frames, at least said bottom frame including aperimetrically extending wall having a plurality of relatively angularlydisposed, vertical wall means, and

additional wall sections, including generally horizontal, wallsupporting portions, integrally joined to said vertical wall means todefine a plurality of relatively angularly disposed recess means andalso including laterally inwardly extending flange means,

said aquarium also comprising:

a plurality of adjacent, relatively angularly disposed, at least partlytransparent, side wall sections, having vertically abutting verticallyextending edge portions spanning said upper and lower frames and loweredge portions received in said recess means to form an enveloping sideenclosure;

a bottom wall section supported by said flange means, and having edgeportions in abutting engagement with said edge portions of said sidewall sections; and

means for sealing said side and bottom wall edge portions and saidframes together including means for sealing each side wall section tothe contiguous side wall section along the entire exposed vertical edgeportion thereof, and sealing said bottom wall section along the entireedge portions thereof to provide a water-tight enclosure; 7

the frame vertical wall means having internal, vertical groove meansreceiving protruding vertically extending edge portions of the at leastpartly transparent side wall sections recieved in the recess means ofthe contiguous, angularly disposed, frame vertical wall means.

2. The aquarium set forth in claim 1 wherein said top and bottom framesare identical and include vertically aligned openings therein, saidadditional wall sections comprising vertical inner wall means and anadditional wall spanning said inner wall means and said vertical wallmeans to define a perimetrically extending, open ended slot, said flangemeans formed integrally with and extending inwardly from said inner wallmeans.

3. The frame set forth in claim 2 wherein said vertical and inner wallmeans comprise a pair of continuous integral walls spanned by saidadditional wall.

4. The frame set forth in claim 2 wherein said support flange means isdisposed interjacent the ends of said vertical wall means.

5. The frame set forth in claim 4 wherein said inner vertical wall meanshas a terminal end terminating below said vertical wall means, saidsupport flange extending inwardly of the terminal end thereof.

6. The aquarium set forth in claim 1 wherein said internal verticalgroove means is provided in said vertical wall means outward of the sidewall section for receiving edge portions of contiguous side wallsections.

7. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said bottom wall sectionis perimetrically undersize and elastomerically bonded over its entireperimetrical edge to said generally horizontal wall supporting flanges,said bond comprising continuous sealant bead means, which is elasticwhen cured, bonding said bottom wall section to said horizontal wallsupporting flanges.

8. An aquarium comprising: continuously integrally extending, verticallyspaced, unitary, synthetic plastic, top and bottom frames; at least saidbottom frame including a perimetrically extending continuous membercomprising a plurality of relatively angularly disposed, integrallyconnected, outer vertical wall sections connected with parallelintegrally connected inner vertical wall sections spaced therefrom byintegrally connected laterally extending wall section means to define acontinuous perimetrical slot means therebetween; a plurality ofrelatively angularly disposed, side panel sections, at least some ofwhich are transparent, received within said slot and spanning said framesections; said slot having at least portions of a width to snuglyreceive each of the side panel sections and support them in uprightposition; said side panel sections being relatively arranged withvertically abutting lapping edges to permit said side panel sections toform a sealed side enclosure; at least one of said side panel sectionshaving a protruding vertical edge portion extending beyond the sidepanel section with which the edge of said one side panel section is invertically abutting relation; inset, vertically extending groove meansprovided in one of the bottom frame vertical wall sections which extendsangularly to the vertical wall section in which the panel section withthe protruding edge portion is received, forming a continuation of theslot means in which said panel section with the protruding edge portionis received and receiving said protruding edge portion; a bottom panelsection closing said bottom frame and means for sealing engaged panelsections and frame sections to provide a watertight enclosure.

9. The combination defined in claim 8 in which said side panel sectionscomprise glass side parts and glass end parts received between them, andsaid bottom frame inner and outer vertical wall sections likewisecomprise corresponding side parts and end parts; the vertical edges ofthe glass side parts protruding beyond the glass end parts receivedbetween them; said inset vertical recess means to receive the protrudingedges being provided in the inner face of each end of the outer wall ofthe bottom frame end parts, opening through the tops thereof.

10. The combination defined inclaim 8 in which an inwardly extendingperimetrical lateral flange, having side and end portions, is providedon said inner vertical wall sections; and said bottom panel section issupported thereon and sealed thereto.

11. A water-tight aquarium comprising: continuously integrallyextending, vertically spaced, horizontal, unitary rigid, centrally open,top and bottom injection molded, identical plastic frames; each frameincluding a perimetrically extending prismatic continuous wallcomprising a pair of integrally connected inner and outer vertical wallsections spaced apart by lateral wall means to define a glass side panelreceiving slot means between them; said identical frames beingoppositely disposed with their perimetrical slots in confrontingvertical alignment; the inner vertical wall of each frame terminating ina continuous horizontal flange; a plurality of relativelyperpendicularly disposed side glass panels having their upper and loweredges received within said confronting slots in said frames; said sideglass sections being relatively arranged at right angles with verticallyabutting lapping edges to permit said side glass sections to form acompletely transparent sealed glass side enclosure; an adhesive sealantbetween said lapping edges and between the frames and panels; at leastone of said side panels having a protruding vertical edge portionextending beyond the side panel with which the edge of said one sidepanel is in vertically abutting relation; said frames comprisingseparate, non-connected members functioning together as a jig to holdsaid frames and glass in assembled relation for curing of said adhesivesealant; inset, vertically extending groove means in one of the bottomframe outer vertical wall sections, forming a continuation of the slotmeans in which said panel section with the protruding edge portion isreceived, receiving said protruding edge portion; and a bottom panelsealed to said horizontal flange on the bottom frame.

* i f t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.9,224, Dated September 18, 1973 Inventor(s) Frank th Hall It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 16, change F and F' to F and F Column 3, line 38, delete"is" and insert may be line 40, after "32" insert particularly insmaller size aquariums, but to assure a seal/such a bead may be usedColumn 4, line 4, change "30" to 36 same line change "water" to outerline 9, change "position to positions Column 5, line 62, after"parallel" and "connected", insert line 63, after "connected" insertline 64, after "extending" insert Column 6, line 1, after slot (bothoccurrences) insert means I lines 10 and 11, delete "inset, verticallyextending groove means provided in"; line 14, after "received" insertbeing shaped to provide outwardly projecting vertically extending slotcontinuation means line 19, delete "engaged" and insert said same line,delete "and" and insert supported with'said line 27, cancel "inset";-line 28, cancel "recess" and insert slot continuation line 30, after"wall" insert section Signed and sealed this 19th day of Marchl974.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. C. MARSHALL DANN r Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents F ORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMMDC 60376-P69 i U.S, GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE: Iii I O-JlC-J.

1. An aquarium comprising: continuously integrally extending, verticallyspaced, unitary, top and bottom frames, at least said bottom frameincluding a perimetrically extending wall having a plurality ofrelatively angularly disposed, vertical wall means, and additional wallsections, including generally horizontal, wall supporting portions,integrally joined to said vertical wall means to define a plurality ofrelatively angularly disposed recess means and also including laterallyinwardly extending flange means, said aquarium also comprising: aplurality of adjacent, relatively angularly disposed, at least partlytransparent, side wall sections, having vertically abutting verticallyextending edge portions spanning said upper and lower frames and loweredge portions received in said recess means to form an enveloping sideenclosure; a bottom wall section supported by said flange means, andhaving edge portions in abutting engagement with said edge portions ofsaid side wall sections; and means for sealing said side and bottom walledge portions and said frames together including means for sealing eachside wall section to the contiguous side wall section along the entireexposed vertical edge portion thereof, and sealing said bottom wallsection along the entire edge portions thereof to provide a water-tightenclosure; the frame vertical wall means having internal, verticalgroove means receiving protruding vertically extending edge portions ofthe at least partly transparent side wall sections recieved in therecess means of the contiguous, angularly disposed, frame vertical wallmeans.
 2. The aquarium set forth in claim 1 wherein said top and bottomframes are identical and include vertically aligned openings therein,said additional wall sections comprising vertical inner wall means andan additional wall spanning said inner wall means and said vertical wallmeans to define a perimetrically extending, open ended slot, said flangemeans formed integrally with and extending inwardly from said inner wallmeans.
 3. The frame set forth in claim 2 wherein said vertical and innerwall means comprise a pair of continuous integral walls spanned by saidadditionaL wall.
 4. The frame set forth in claim 2 wherein said supportflange means is disposed interjacent the ends of said vertical wallmeans.
 5. The frame set forth in claim 4 wherein said inner verticalwall means has a terminal end terminating below said vertical wallmeans, said support flange extending inwardly of the terminal endthereof.
 6. The aquarium set forth in claim 1 wherein said internalvertical groove means is provided in said vertical wall means outward ofthe side wall section for receiving edge portions of contiguous sidewall sections.
 7. The combination defined in claim 1 in which saidbottom wall section is perimetrically undersize and elastomericallybonded over its entire perimetrical edge to said generally horizontalwall supporting flanges, said bond comprising continuous sealant beadmeans, which is elastic when cured, bonding said bottom wall section tosaid horizontal wall supporting flanges.
 8. An aquarium comprising:continuously integrally extending, vertically spaced, unitary, syntheticplastic, top and bottom frames; at least said bottom frame including aperimetrically extending continuous member comprising a plurality ofrelatively angularly disposed, integrally connected, outer vertical wallsections connected with parallel integrally connected inner verticalwall sections spaced therefrom by integrally connected laterallyextending wall section means to define a continuous perimetrical slotmeans therebetween; a plurality of relatively angularly disposed, sidepanel sections, at least some of which are transparent, received withinsaid slot and spanning said frame sections; said slot having at leastportions of a width to snugly receive each of the side panel sectionsand support them in upright position; said side panel sections beingrelatively arranged with vertically abutting lapping edges to permitsaid side panel sections to form a sealed side enclosure; at least oneof said side panel sections having a protruding vertical edge portionextending beyond the side panel section with which the edge of said oneside panel section is in vertically abutting relation; inset, verticallyextending groove means provided in one of the bottom frame vertical wallsections which extends angularly to the vertical wall section in whichthe panel section with the protruding edge portion is received, forminga continuation of the slot means in which said panel section with theprotruding edge portion is received and receiving said protruding edgeportion; a bottom panel section closing said bottom frame and means forsealing engaged panel sections and frame sections to provide awatertight enclosure.
 9. The combination defined in claim 8 in whichsaid side panel sections comprise glass side parts and glass end partsreceived between them, and said bottom frame inner and outer verticalwall sections likewise comprise corresponding side parts and end parts;the vertical edges of the glass side parts protruding beyond the glassend parts received between them; said inset vertical recess means toreceive the protruding edges being provided in the inner face of eachend of the outer wall of the bottom frame end parts, opening through thetops thereof.
 10. The combination defined in claim 8 in which aninwardly extending perimetrical lateral flange, having side and endportions, is provided on said inner vertical wall sections; and saidbottom panel section is supported thereon and sealed thereto.
 11. Awater-tight aquarium comprising: continuously integrally extending,vertically spaced, horizontal, unitary rigid, centrally open, top andbottom injection molded, identical plastic frames; each frame includinga perimetrically extending prismatic continuous wall comprising a pairof integrally connected inner and outer vertical wall sections spacedapart by lateral wall means to define a glass side panel receiving slotmeans between them; said identical frames being oppositely disposed withtheir perimetrical slots in confronting Vertical alignment; the innervertical wall of each frame terminating in a continuous horizontalflange; a plurality of relatively perpendicularly disposed side glasspanels having their upper and lower edges received within saidconfronting slots in said frames; said side glass sections beingrelatively arranged at right angles with vertically abutting lappingedges to permit said side glass sections to form a completelytransparent sealed glass side enclosure; an adhesive sealant betweensaid lapping edges and between the frames and panels; at least one ofsaid side panels having a protruding vertical edge portion extendingbeyond the side panel with which the edge of said one side panel is invertically abutting relation; said frames comprising separate,non-connected members functioning together as a jig to hold said framesand glass in assembled relation for curing of said adhesive sealant;inset, vertically extending groove means in one of the bottom frameouter vertical wall sections, forming a continuation of the slot meansin which said panel section with the protruding edge portion isreceived, receiving said protruding edge portion; and a bottom panelsealed to said horizontal flange on the bottom frame.